Old Tige

	  		
E                        A               E 
Tige, you were faithful, faithful to the end 
B                     A                E 
Tige, how I miss you, you were my best friend. 


                                                           A 
Three years of army service done and I was heading home at last 
                           E 
I got to thinking ?bout my dog and things long gone and past 
B                                                            A 
How old Tige pulled me from the creek when I had no pulse or breath 
                         E  
How he saved me from the charging bull that gored my dad to death. 



As a kid I?d dream of bears and tremble to my toes 
A                                     E 
Till old Tige?d come up to my bed and nudge me with his nose 
            B 
Then all my fears would melt away and Tige?d go lie down 
                     A                           E 
I?d drift on back to sleep without another sound. 



The big bus stopped and I got off it was awful dark and thick with fog 
     A                                           E 
Then something gently nuzzled me and there stood Tige, my dog 
  B 
I wondered if my faithful dog had met the bus each day 
                          A                          E 
And all the dreary winter nights since I?d been away. 



To have old Tige meet me here like this I was, I was really glad 
                     A                                      E 
?Cos I hadn?t needed Tige so much since the day they buried dad 
B 
Two long miles lay ahead, but what I didn?t know 
                            A                             E 
A giant dam was being built where the old road used to go. 



I thank the Lord for sending Tige and followed where he led 
                                          A 
Knowing well that without his help I?d be good as dead 
     E                                   B 
Tige inched away this way and that going rough and slow 

And I could hear the water lapping at the ledges far below. 


A                             E 
Then through the mist I saw a light, and mother in her chair 

And I reached down to pat old Tige, but he wasn?t there 
             A                                       E 
I?m thankful mom you had old Tige these three lonely years 
                       B 
I owe my life to him tonight I couldn?t help my tears. 


                      A                                      E 
You say you wrote me about the dam, well God was sure with us 

I didn?t get your letter mom, but old Tige met the bus 
  A                                  E 
I hate to tell you son she said, but now you?ve got to know 
         B                             A                     E 
When you left it broke his heart; Tige died three years ago.